FIFA Inspectors give Christchurch seal of approval

Some of the most senior officials from
football’s world governing body, FIFA, have given
Christchurch the seal of approval as it prepares to host
FIFA’s second largest global tournament – the U-20 World
Cup in 2015.

FIFA Inspectors were in Christchurch today to
inspect the City’s host stadium Christchurch Stadium and
various training venues for this landmark event and agreed
that the venue was in great shape to showcase the world’s
biggest game.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the
FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 has announced that the brand-new
FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy has been entrusted to the LOC and
will be taken on a nationwide tour of New Zealand in May.
The trophy will be in Christchurch on Monday 19 May.

One
of the FIFA officials inspecting Christchurch Stadium was
the Head of Olympics, FCWC and FIFA U-20 World Cup Marion
Mayer-Vorfelder.

“For a venue which was built in just
100 days, we have been hugely impressed with the stadium and
its infrastructure which is why we committed to bringing a
semi-final to Christchurch,” she says. “We feel hugely
confident that this arena will be able to showcase the very
best young talent which our sport has to offer when this
tournament kicks off next year.”

Christchurch Mayor
Lianne Dalziel was on hand to welcome the FIFA delegation
and said that Christchurch looks forward to welcoming the
world’s best young football stars for this iconic sporting
event.

“By 2015, Christchurch will be in the perfect
place to host a sporting event of this magnitude. We’ve
had enough hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions open
since the 2011 earthquakes – with more on the way – to
ensure teams and visiting fans will be well looked-after,”
she says.

“As well, Christchurch’s welcome influx of
migrants – many of whom have brought an inborn passion for
football with them – to work on the rebuild has created a
lively cultural cross-section. All the ingredients are in
place and it’s looking like the FIFA U-20 World Cup will
make a big splash in Christchurch in 2015.”

Christchurch
is the only South Island venue to host a match in the final
rounds of the tournament, hosting nine matches between
Monday 1 and Wednesday 17 June, including a round of 16
clash, a quarter-final, and one of the two semi-finals. All
of the Christchurch matches will be played at Christchurch
Stadium in Addington.

Dave Beeche, CEO of the Local
Organising Committee of the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand
2015 added: “We’re pleased that Christchurch was
selected to host matches in the final stages of this
tournament and hope that it will be a welcome boost for this
great City as well as provide the region’s vibrant
football community with a chance to be inspired by the level
of footballing talent on display.

“We fully expect this
stadium to sell out next year and would urge football fans
from across the region to book their seats early when
tickets go on sale next month.”

The FIFA Inspection Tour
of New Zealand covers all seven Host Cities from Whangarei
toDunedin and will conclude with a press conference at
Auckland’s Sky City on Friday 14 March.

Players like
Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Cesc Fabregas and
Luis Figo have all starred at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in
years gone by and many of those participating in the 2015
tournament will have already established their reputations
in the top leagues in Europe.

With the world coming to New
Zealand, fans are encouraged to register for ticket alerts
onwww.fifa.com/NZ2015 to make sure they
don’t miss out on the best seats, with tickets going on
sale next month.

About the FIFA U-20 World Cup New
Zealand 2015The FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015
is the largest football tournament ever staged in New
Zealand. It will take place over three weeks from 30 May
2015 to 20 June 2015 with 24 countries participating. A
total of 52 matches will be played in seven host cities –
Whangarei, Auckland,Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington,
Christchurch and Dunedin. An audience of over 500,000 is
expected to attend the event.

About the FIFA U-20 World
CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup is the world championship
of football for male players under the age of 20 and is
organised by Fédération Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA). The Championship has been awarded every
two years since the first tournament in 1977 held in
Tunisia. In the 19 tournaments held, only nine nations have
won the title. Argentina is the most successful team with
six titles, followed by Brazil with five titles and Portugal
with two
titles.

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